You Can't Take a Balloon into the Museum of Fine Arts (Fairytale Foil Books)

Rating:
Summary: This time Grandma chases a green balloon around Boston
Review: "You Can't Take a Balloon into the Museum of Fine Arts" is the problem that confronts a young girl who is visiting the Boston museum with her brother and grandparents in this charming children's book from author Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman and artist Robin Preiss Glasser. So grandma volunteers to wait outside, with the balloon (which is green), while the others tour the museum. However, before the trio even gets inside, the balloon comes undone from grandma's wrist and sails away. However, grandma is not about to let the day be ruined and sets off in hot pursuit of the balloon, helped by a nice young man on a motorbike. While grandpa and the children tour the Museum of Fine Arts, grandma chases the balloon across Boston. In doing so, we get to see pretty much every major site in Boston, from Trinity Church and the Boston Common to Faneuil Hall, the Old North Church, and Fenway Park (the balloon manages to follow most of the Freedom Trail, but turns away from the U.S.S. Constituion and Bunker Hill Monument).

However, there is more fun to be had in this book. Scattered throughout the scenes are 33 past and present legends of Boston. My cocked hat is off to the person who can spot even half of the faces from history and today that artist Robin P. Glasser has put into these scenes of places around Boston. Larry Bird and Bill Russell I recognized (but I missed "Red" Auerbach), and I figured that was Paul Revere in front of the Paul Revere House, but I never would have known that was Michael Dukakis eating lunch at Durgin Park. Meanwhile, back at the Museum of Fine Arts, we see photographic reproductions of some of the famous painting to be found within, such as Rembrandt's "Artist in His Studio," Edward Hopper's "Drugstore," and John Singleton Copley's "Watson and the Shark" and "Paul Revere."

I saw most, but not all, of these sites on a trip through Boston last year so it was fun to be reminded of what I had seen and see some glimpses of what I had missed. I was not surprised to learn that Weitzman and Glasser had collaborated on a previous effort, "You Can't Take a Balloon Into The Metropolitan Museum" as well as the more recent "You Can't Take a Balloon Into The National Gallery." But this book is a green balloon and Boston and those books have a yellow balloon in New York City and an orange balloon in Washington, D.C., which are both completely different. I am not sure if readers who live outside of these three American metropolises could possible enjoy these books as much as natives. But certainly if you live in Boston this is a book that will remind you of the rich history and culture of Beantown. You can also think of it is a tour guide for kids.

Rating:
Summary: A FUN WORK OF ART AND HEART
Review: Building on the enormous popularity of "You Can't Take A Balloon Into The Metropolitan Museum" and "You Can't Take A Balloon Into The National Gallery" Weitzman and Glasser now offer a fun, colorful peek at the Museum of Fine Arts while presenting an affirming grandparent/grandchild relationship.

Each full-color page bursts with vibrant energy as a little girl's balloon (not allowed inside the Museum) escapes her grandmother's grasp and soars away. Off we go, following the green orb through the streets of Boston. This chase is matched with the works of art the little girl is viewing.

There's a bit of history here, a bit of whimsy, and a lot of entertainment...

Rating:
Summary: Boston, a Balloon, and Fun.....
Review: The Preiss sisters are back and taking Boston by storm, or should I say balloon. As in their previous books, You Can't Take A Balloon Into The Metropolitan Museum and You Can't Take A Balloon Into The National Gallery, a little balloon carrying girl and her brother visit the Museum of Fine Arts with Grandma and Grandpa. Everyone knows you can't take a balloon inside, so Grandma does the honors and waits outside on the steps, holding the treasured balloon, while the others go in and take their tour. In no time, the balloon escapes, and the fun begins. As life imitates the famous artwork the little girl is observing inside, Grandma chases the balloon all over the city from the Boston Library, Trinity Church, Chinatown, and the Boston Harbor, to Faneuil Hall, the Old North Church, Fenway Park, and many other famous landmarks along the way. This hilarious, joyous, manic romp, will mesmerize youngsters with it's exuberant and engaging pen and ink illustrations, with just a little color used here and there to highlight the action, and includes thirty-three hidden famous Bostonians, sprinkled throughout the comic book-like pages, to find and learn more about. Part art book, history lesson and travel brochure, this is a creative and inventive tour of one of America's great cities, and includes a map of the balloon's route, an informative list of artwork seen in the museum, and biographical sketches of the hidden "faces from history." Perfect for kids of all ages, You Can't Take A Balloon Into The Museum Of Fine Arts is a wonderful addition to an already terrific series, and guarantees hours of clever and imaginative, page-turning fun.

Rating:
Summary: Boston, a Balloon, and Fun.....
Review: The Preiss sisters are back and taking Boston by storm, or should I say balloon. As in their previous books, You Can't Take A Balloon Into The Metropolitan Museum and You Can't Take A Balloon Into The National Gallery, a little balloon carrying girl and her brother visit the Museum of Fine Arts with Grandma and Grandpa. Everyone knows you can't take a balloon inside, so Grandma does the honors and waits outside on the steps, holding the treasured balloon, while the others go in and take their tour. In no time, the balloon escapes, and the fun begins. As life imitates the famous artwork the little girl is observing inside, Grandma chases the balloon all over the city from the Boston Library, Trinity Church, Chinatown, and the Boston Harbor, to Faneuil Hall, the Old North Church, Fenway Park, and many other famous landmarks along the way. This hilarious, joyous, manic romp, will mesmerize youngsters with it's exuberant and engaging pen and ink illustrations, with just a little color used here and there to highlight the action, and includes thirty-three hidden famous Bostonians, sprinkled throughout the comic book-like pages, to find and learn more about. Part art book, history lesson and travel brochure, this is a creative and inventive tour of one of America's great cities, and includes a map of the balloon's route, an informative list of artwork seen in the museum, and biographical sketches of the hidden "faces from history." Perfect for kids of all ages, You Can't Take A Balloon Into The Museum Of Fine Arts is a wonderful addition to an already terrific series, and guarantees hours of clever and imaginative, page-turning fun.